1970 Fiat 124 vs. 1987 Lotus Esprit
To start off, 1987 Lotus Esprit is newer by 17 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1970 Fiat 124. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1970 Fiat 124 would be higher. At 2,174 cc (4 cylinders), 1987 Lotus Esprit is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 1987 Lotus Esprit (160 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 65 more horse power than 1970 Fiat 124. (95 HP @ 6000 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 1987 Lotus Esprit should accelerate faster than 1970 Fiat 124. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1987 Lotus Esprit weights approximately 107 kg more than 1970 Fiat 124. So despite on having greater horse power, its additional weight may have an impact towards its acceleration in comparison.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1987 Lotus Esprit (221 Nm @ 5250 RPM) has 95 more torque (in Nm) than 1970 Fiat 124. (126 Nm @ 4000 RPM). This means 1987 Lotus Esprit will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 1970 Fiat 124.
Compare all specifications:
| 1970 Fiat 124 | 1987 Lotus Esprit | |
| Make | Fiat | Lotus |
| Model | 124 | Esprit |
| Year Released | 1970 | 1987 |
| Engine Position | Front | Middle |
| Engine Size | 1592 cc | 2174 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 95 HP | 160 HP |
| Engine RPM | 6000 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 126 Nm | 221 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 4000 RPM | 5250 RPM |
| Engine Compression Ratio | 8.9:1 | 9.5:1 |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Manual |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 960 kg | 1067 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4070 mm | 4200 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1620 mm | 1860 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1430 mm | 1120 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2430 mm | 2490 mm |
